Can I add a betta to my community tank?

[Tiapan]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

it seems most of the points have been made, so i concur i think you can get the best of both worlds do guppies and a betta. just keep and eye on them for a bit and good luck. i like crown tails myself but hey I dont usually have bettas

[daisymac]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

Well guys, this is way too late for me! I put my betta, Buster in the big tank and all was well for a few days. After he got used to the setup he got aggressive. I did get some guppies also, but Buster started nipping their fins, so out they went into a small tank. Then he decided that he liked the clowns cave, which is a root decoration that they can hide inside and under. So he started chasing them, and they just hid in the root and NEVER would come out. So I thought that maybe if I got a female betta that might calm him down. HA! He flirted with her and when she ignored him he went crazy and started chasing her at breakneck speed. So out came Buster and was put into a vase. The next day she died - I think she was sick and I didn't have a quarantine tank. The reason I say that is over the next few days I had more fish acting odd and eventually dying.

So now Buster is in his own little tank, on a bookshelf and he is a happy camper. For company sometimes I put a mirror over there and he watches that "other" Betta.

[szidlon]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

That Buster, he's really a bad boy.  Maybe you could send him to a program of some sort or take him to some anger management sessions  

[daisymac]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

That Buster, he's really a bad boy. Maybe you could send him to a program of some sort or take him to some anger management sessions

He is in an isolation tank!

[jklntx]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

You know after all my ya ya about how I dont understand why they are kept in small bowl, I picked up a crown tail at Scotts swap and introduced him to my 26G Apisto Nijessini tank. Lo and behold he starts taking on the male, but Nijessini's are no slouches and he backed him off. But now "Buster" likes to chase the females and will agressively chase them to all parts of the tank. Luckily its well planted with bogwood and caves that they can find safety.

I dont want to put him into an isolation ward, but maybe a mellow pill is out there?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

Nothing to calm these things down, it's their nature. Go get him a 2.5-5g tank

[Mzungu]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

It's either this particular guy, or the fact that he's with apistos. If you have some more "peaceful" fish, maybe try to move him in with them? That is if you don't want to buy a small tank. But if it doesn't work, I'm afraid that's what you'll have to do.  :)

[jklntx]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

I'm not where I can isolate him...I have another in a 29 Gal with a couple angels and tetras and they are fine tankmates. Actually, the angels and betta "spar" with each other and enjoy the fun. And then I have another in a 29 Gal with Apisto Macs and he mingles with them peacefully. Its just they have so much personality I hate to see them just "sit" there.

I would like to keep them together, but animals fighting with each other to the death is not my idea of fun.

I may move him to a 45 or 55 with angesl and see how he gets along. The 55 has a pair of Ghosts and No one messes with them...at least not in my setups   :)

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

are your apisto's breeding? you got fry yet?

I would probably be intrested in some

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

So I thought that maybe if I got a female betta that might calm him down. HA! He flirted with her and when she ignored him he went crazy and started chasing her at breakneck speed. So out came Buster and was put into a vase. The next day she died - I think she was sick and I didn't have a quarantine tank. The reason I say that is over the next few days I had more fish acting odd and eventually dying.

So now Buster is in his own little tank, on a bookshelf and he is a happy camper. For company sometimes I put a mirror over there and he watches that "other" Betta.

I recommend keeping any new fish in isolation for a few weeks as it is cheaper to treat a small isolation tank that a large community tank.
I keep all my new betta imports in one gallon pickle jars.

Yes, male fighting fish should not be kept with females as they get aggressive and the female can't run away.  The only time I put them together is when the male has built a bubble nest in the spawn tank and the female shows vertical stripes, exposed egg tube and a head down subservant pose.

[Grace]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

I wouldnt put my bettas in my comunity tank at all. They are way to mean, they seem happy being placed next to each other in thier own 1g tanks.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

Female bettas are generally raised in spawn tank and seldom moved to individual containers (unless the owner plans to show them).   They generally make good comunity tank members.  

Males are more likely to be agressive, if not the bully of the tank will nip his fins.   Eather way giving them their own container is the best solution.